Washington CDL Classes Explained
Which Washington CDL class you need depends on vehicle weight, what it tows, and the type of operation, not just the truck size. The three classes are set by federal rule (49 CFR 383.91) and are the same in every state, so a Washington CDL is valid nationwide. Washington Department of Licensing issues the license and runs the knowledge and skills tests. Washington's Port of Seattle and aerospace manufacturing create strong CDL demand across the Pacific Northwest.
A Class A CDL is generally used for combination vehicles, including tractor-trailers, when the gross combination weight rating is 26,001 pounds or more and the towed unit is over 10,000 pounds.
Knowledge Test Topics
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes if equipped
- Combination Vehicles
- Vehicle Inspection
- Basic Vehicle Control
- Road Test
Common Job Types
- Tractor-trailer driver
- Regional freight driver
- Heavy combination vehicle operator
- Class A delivery driver
Class A CDL in Washington
Class A is the license behind most of Washington's long-haul and heavy freight, much of it moving on I-5, I-90, I-82. With port and intermodal freight, aerospace manufacturing, agriculture and produce driving demand, typical Washington Class A work includes:
- Port and intermodal freight: container drayage between the ports and inland rail yards
- Aerospace manufacturing: flatbed and step-deck loads of steel, lumber, and building materials
- Agriculture and produce: refrigerated (reefer) loads of produce and food moving to distribution centers and out of state
Apply, test, and schedule through Washington Department of Licensing. Not sure this is your class? Use the Washington CDL Selector.
A Class B CDL is generally used for a single commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, plus limited towing.
Knowledge Test Topics
- General Knowledge
- Air Brakes if equipped
- Vehicle Inspection
- Basic Vehicle Control
- Road Test
Common Job Types
- Straight truck driver
- Dump truck driver
- Large bus driver
- Box truck driver
- Concrete mixer driver
Class B CDL in Washington
Class B covers the single heavy vehicles that keep Washington moving locally: no tractor-trailer, but everything from dump trucks to full-size buses. Typical Washington Class B work includes:
- Port and intermodal freight: yard trucks and local box trucks serving the port terminals
- Aerospace manufacturing: dump trucks, concrete mixers, and boom trucks on construction sites
- Agriculture and produce: single-unit farm and packing-house trucks (many states offer a restricted farm CDL)
- Transit and school districts: city buses and full-size school buses across Washington (P and S endorsements)
Apply, test, and schedule through Washington Department of Licensing. Not sure this is your class? Use the Washington CDL Selector.
A Class C CDL may apply when the vehicle does not meet Class A or B weight definitions but is used for passengers, school bus operation, or placarded hazardous materials.
Knowledge Test Topics
- General Knowledge as required
- Passenger or School Bus endorsement if applicable
- HazMat endorsement if applicable
- State-specific requirements
Common Job Types
- Shuttle driver
- Small passenger vehicle driver
- School activity driver
- HazMat delivery driver
Class C CDL in Washington
Class C applies to lighter vehicles in Washington that still need a CDL because of what they carry: 16 or more passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. Typical Washington Class C work includes:
- Agriculture and produce: farm crew transport when the vehicle carries 16 or more passengers
- Smaller school buses and activity buses for Washington school districts (P and S endorsements)
- Shuttle, paratransit, and church or community vans built for 16 or more passengers
Apply, test, and schedule through Washington Department of Licensing. Not sure this is your class? Use the Washington CDL Selector.
Not sure which class applies to you?
Answer a few questions about your vehicle and operation, and the CDL Selector gives you a starting point in under a minute.